Latest news with #CoraFelton
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Downton Abbey actress joins real life husband on-screen in Channel 5 crime drama
Downton Abbey actress Phyllis Logan was reunited with her husband Kevin McNally on-screen in the latest instalment of a Channel 5 crime drama Downton Abbey's Phyllis Logan has been reunited on our screens with her real-life spouse, Kevin McNally, in Channel 5's gripping crime series, Murder Most Puzzling. The show, an adaptation of the much-lauded Puzzle Lady Mysteries from the mind of author Parnell Hall, follows sleuth Cora Felton whose exceptional crossword-solving talents see her become a surprising asset to the police department in a sleepy town. McNally, known for his roles in epic franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean and acclaimed series including The Crown and Unforgotten, portrays Gilbert – a potential romantic fixture in Cora's life. According to the episode narrative, "Cora is distracted by love, as she's wooed by a charming suitor, Gilbert. When Sherry says he seems too good to be true, it causes a rift between the women but plants a seed of doubt in Cora's mind." Phyllis first encountered Kevin on the set of Love and Reason, back in 1993. It wasn't until well into their workforce years that they tied the knot in 2011, after becoming parents to their son David in 1996, reports Surrey Live. In a heart-to-heart with Mail Online in 2017, Phyllis divulged details about their unexpected romance: "I never thought real love. "The sort where your blood tingles and your world explodes with joy – would happen to me at my time of life," she shared. "I believed I had missed out. But I'm ever so glad it happened.'" Phyllis and Kevin, who recently played Jane Austen's parents in the BBC period drama Miss Austen, reunite as on-screen lovers in the new series Murder Most Puzzling. Set against the backdrop of the idyllic market town of Bakerbury, the show introduces us to Cora Felton, a crossword aficionado who lends her puzzle-solving prowess to the local police force when a murder mystery unfolds. The official synopsis for the series reveals: "After the body of a teenage girl is found in the local cemetery with an enigmatic clue in her pocket, Bakerbury Detective DCI Hooper seeks help from the town's newest, and most famous, resident – Cora Felton, AKA The Puzzle Lady." Cora's unconventional 'shoot first, ask questions never' method becomes an asset as she navigates through a web of murderers, swindlers, and dodgy officials. Despite harbouring a secret that could destroy her and those close to her, Cora's uncanny knack for unravelling murder mysteries stands out. "And, as it turns out, Bakerbury isn't as sleepy as it looks."
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Phyllis Logan's puzzling whodunnit is like a spoof of Midsomer Murders, says RONALD WHITE
Murder Most Puzzling - Channel 5 About halfway through Murder Most Puzzling, actor Adam Best delivered what is surely the most whodunnit line ever: 'This is DI Hooper. A body has been found in the library.' Found? You'd have to be Chief Inspector Clouseau to have missed it. The bloodied corpse dropped from the balcony during amateur detective Cora Felton's birthday party — straight on top of the giant cake. But never mind the death, a bigger mystery was the party itself. Inspector Hooper's main job in this series is to look cross while telling Cora to mind her own business. Why would he organise her birthday party? And how do you slit a hard-bitten private investigator's throat and heave him over a balcony into a room full of police officers without anybody noticing? Murder Most Puzzling has been compared with the BBC 's hit Ludwig, mainly because Cora — like David Mitchell 's character — is a famous crossword compiler. But that's where the resemblance ends. Crosswords and logic are how Ludwig solves crimes, posing as his identical twin brother. There is also something darker lurking in the background, not to mention the suggestion that Ludwig fancies his sister-in-law. We only knew Phyllis Logan's Cora was a famous puzzler in this episode because everybody kept mentioning it. She could just as well be a celebrity chef. Her red specs were straight out of the Prue Leith eyewear range. This six-parter has none of the subtlety of Ludwig. Sometimes it was like watching a spoof episode of Midsomer Murders. There were some clever twists, but far too much seemed far too unlikely. It's a waste of Phyllis Logan, and at two hours, it's much too long (by contrast, the BBC's Death Valley is only 45 minutes). In last night's episode, Cora was hired to clear the name of a man in prison for killing his girlfriend. I don't want to give too much away, but the mayor of Bakerbury (Richard Croxford) could not have been a more obvious villain if he had a duelling scar, sported a twirly moustache, and stroked a white cat. Cora confronted him alone in his office, and it's a miracle she survived long enough to do this. Her preferred method of solving crimes seems to be meeting suspects in circumstances of obvious danger and asking if they've killed anybody recently. At least she had a gun when confronting one killer, who was caught in the act. Who knew crossword compilers were routinely armed? She also managed to force her way into the office of Mr Peacock, the rather limp governor of Bakerbury Prison and an early suspect, by bribing the guards with biscuits. Presumably, these guards were sacked following this outrageous security breach — and immediately recruited by RAF Brize Norton.
Wales Online
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Inside Channel 5's Murder Most Puzzling cast led by Downton Abbey legend
Inside Channel 5's Murder Most Puzzling cast led by Downton Abbey legend Channel 5's new three-part series Murder Most Puzzling is based on the best-selling novel series The Puzzle Lady by author Parnell Hall. Channel 5's new cosy crime drama Murder Most Puzzling has arrived with a Downton Abbey star at the helm. The beloved amateur sleuth genre takes a fresh turn in this three-part series, which sees a crossword enthusiast team up with the police to unravel some intricate crimes. Cora Felton, also known as the Puzzle Lady and played by Phyllis Logan, is central to the drama, but as the official synopsis hints, she "isn't who she claims to be". With the series now well underway, let's take a closer look at the familiar faces gracing Channel 5's Murder Most Puzzling. Murder Most Puzzling cast Cora Felton - Phyllis Logan Murder Most Puzzling cast in full as Downton Abbey star leads Channel 5 drama (Image: CHANNEL 5 ) BBC Call the Midwife axe rumours addressed as Beeb breaks silence READ MORE: Cora Felton is famed for her crossword puzzles, but it isn't long after moving to the market town of Bakerbury with her niece that she puts her clue-solving skills to the test. Article continues below Actress Phyllis Logan is best known for her role as head housekeeper Mrs Hughes in the globally popular period drama Downton Abbey. She has also appeared in Lovejoy, Another Time, Another Place, Shetland, Guilt and Miss Austen. Darren - Matthew Sharpe In episode two, Cora visits Bakerbury Prison where she interviews Darren, who was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend Anita five years ago. He maintains his innocence, but is he telling the truth and can Cora help him? Governor Peacock - Aiden McArdle Actor Aiden McArdle portrayed Lord Loxley in Mr Selfridge. (Image: ITV ) After speaking with Darren, Cora has a conversation with the prison boss Governor Peacock, who quickly warns her off the investigation, leading her to suspect he may have something to hide. Irish actor Aidan McArdle is well known for his roles in series such as 'Garrow's Law', 'Mr Selfridge', 'Black Shore', 'Show Trial' and 'Ridley'. This year also saw him appear in two additional detective dramas, starring alongside John Nettles in 'Bergerac' and featuring in The CW's 'Sherlock and Daughter'. Roy Gleason - Faolan Morgan In the mix of suspects from Bakerbury is Roy Gleason, a former homeless army veteran who some suspect to be the murderer of Anita, yet he, like Darren, denies the claims. Actor Faolan Morgan has notched up appearances in a variety of productions including 'Game of Thrones', 'High-Rise', 'Rebellion', 'Hope Street' and 'Blue Lights'. Anton Grant - Alistair Brammer Murder Most Puzzling cast: Journalist Anton Grant is played by actor Alistair Brammer. (Image: CHANNEL 5 ) Known for playing Jack Diamond on BBC's 'Casualty', actor Alistair Brammer has also been seen in titles like 'The Watchers', 'House of the Dragon', and 'Dalgliesh'. He returns to our screens as Anton Grant, "a tenacious journalist" with a reputation for pushing boundaries to uncover a story. DCI Hooper - Adam Best Murder Most Puzzling cast: DCI Hooper is played by actor Adam Best. (Image: CHANNEL 5 ) DCI Hooper, a pivotal character in Bakerbury, particularly notable in the opening of 'Murder Most Puzzling', is brought to life by actor Adam Best. Best previously had a stint as Matt Parker in 'Holby City', appeared as DS Cooper in 'The Lazarus Project', and was Sam Ryan in two episodes of 'Peaky Blinders'. Sherry - Charlotte Hope Murder Most Puzzling cast: Sherry is portrayed by actress Charlotte Hope. (Image: CHANNEL 5 ) Joining the line-up as Cora's niece Sherry is actress Charlotte Hope, who Game of Thrones fans would recognise as Myranda from seasons three to five. Hope's portfolio expands to roles in projects such as 'Catch Me A Killer', 'Bancroft', 'The English Game' and 'The Spanish Princess'. Other cast members include: DS Sam Brody - Nick Danan PC Danny Finley - Jack Weise Becky Baidwan - Yasmin Seky Mayor Firth - Richard Croxford Article continues below Murder Most Puzzling continues every Thursday at 8pm on Channel 5.
Telegraph
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Sexual assault and drink driving – cosy crime but not as we know it
A puzzle-setter turns sleuth in a quirky British crime series. Stop me if you think you've heard this one before. Murder Most Puzzling is trying to be Ludwig, which was a hit for the BBC last year. But it's a pale imitation. While that one was a five-star treat starring David Mitchell, this one is a two-star rip-off starring Phyllis Logan. The missteps start as soon as we are introduced to her character, Cora Felton. Cora is The Puzzle Lady, a crossword compiler whose job has made her so famous that she has her own range of biscuits and TV adverts. Let's not pause to ponder how unlikely that is. She is called in to investigate the case of a young woman found murdered in a churchyard, with a mysterious crossword clue in her pocket. Unfortunately, Cora can't make head nor tail of the clue when she first sees it because she's still sozzled from the night before. When we first meet her, she is passed out at the wheel of her car after a spot of drink-driving. Drink-driving? Really? We're supposed to find this quirkily amusing, but it strikes the wrong tone right away. It's a sign that the show doesn't quite know what it's supposed to be. This is cosy crime, yet having someone at a town hall meeting ask if the murder victim was sexually assaulted belongs in a grittier police drama. At least the mystery is wrapped up in a feature-length episode rather than being dragged out. The show is based on a book series by Parnell Hall and the failings of the TV series are odd because its writer, Dominique Moloney is a veteran of Father Brown and The Sister Boniface Mysteries. Some bits do conform to the cosy crime template: jaunty music, a picturesque setting in the fictional market town of Bakerbury (it's Lisburn in Northern Ireland), and the odd silly character, such as the blustering mayor in a cravat who runs the local police force. The programme's saving graces are the three lead performances. Logan, best known as Mrs Hughes in Downton Abbey, is a safe pair of hands and does her best with the material. Charlotte Hope is a bright spot as Cara's niece and right-hand-woman, Sherry. And Adam Best is, well, the best thing here as DCI Derek Hooper, who has never worked a murder case before and reluctantly turns to Cora for help. There is a twist halfway through relating to Cora's job, and if you didn't see it coming then I'm afraid your sleuthing skills are a little below par.
South Wales Argus
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Channel 5 Murder Most Puzzling: Full cast list and TV times
Adapted from the best-selling The Puzzle Lady Mysteries book series from Parnell Hall, the first series will feature six episodes. It follows Cora Felton (Logan), a nationally syndicated crossword puzzle maker who finds herself solving murders in her sleepy market town. A synopsis on the Radio Times reads: "When a murder takes place in the sleepy market town of Bakerbury, the police are baffled by a crossword puzzle left on the body. Get comfy, get curious, and get ready for Murder Most Puzzling! 🔎 🩸 Murder Most Puzzling. Coming 19th June 8pm. Watch | Stream on 5#murdermostpuzzling #newshow #PhyllisLogan — Channel 5 (@channel5_tv) June 13, 2025 "With their case going nowhere, they turn reluctantly to Cora Felton, a recent arrival, whose fame as a newspaper puzzle writer suggests she can help DCI Hooper and the local police unravel the clue and solve the case." Discussing the show with the Radio Times, Logan described it as "a bit like Murder She Wrote meets Miss Marple on steroids". Speaking of her character specifically, she said: "She's so refreshing. Cora is her own woman and that's what makes her intriguing – she wants a Bloody Mary for breakfast, so she has one, why not?! "Her niece despairs of her, and it's true that Cora does some things I shouldn't really laugh about, she's not PC at all, but she's a character that I absolutely believe. "Of course, she has a big secret too, which will be quite dangerous if it comes out…" Channel 5 Murder Most Puzzling full cast list Phyllis Logan as Cora Felton Charlotte Hope as Sherry Carter Alistair Brammer as Anton Grant Adam Best as DCI Hooper Nick Danan as DS Sam Brody Jack Weise as PC Danny Finley Yasmin Seky as Becky Badwan Richard Croxford as Major Firth Conor Sánchez as Jimmi Potter Amber Mendez-Martin as Katy Hooper Trevor Kaneswaran is Sunil Baidwan Simon Haines is Rod Reed Ashionye Michelle Raccah is Barbara 'Babs' Dufresne Lata Sharma is Irene Farrow Fiona Browne is Edith Potter Mukamajulé Michelo is Ellen Hooper Catherine Rees is Dr Nadia Burke Barney Taylor is Colin Sugar Conor Grimes is Mr Trotter David Crowley is Stuart Tanner Dearbháile Mckinney is Pamela Hawkins Conor Doran is Casey Roth Recommended reading: When will Channel 5's Murder Most Puzzling be on TV? The first episode of Murder Most Puzzling will air between 8pm and 10pm on Thursday, June 19, on Channel 5. After that, the remaining five episodes will air in the same timeslot in the following two weeks. These episodes will be available to watch on the Channel 5 player after they have been broadcast.
